VCR functions do not work (play, record, ...)

If you are trying to play older VHS tapes, you may have to run them through some fast forward-rewind cycles to condition them and relieve stress

look to see if tape will fully load and if FF or REWIND work, if not a transport problem, drive mechanism not moving the tape, unit will sense this and shut unit off----even a problem in the loading mechanism for the VHS tape not loading the tape all the way will do the same thing.

Have someone look inside---if tape is not loading all the way against the video heads or tape does not move in play-rewind-FF then there is a problem with the transport mechanism which is what performs these functions.

Try different tape if prob. is only on 1 tape ffwd then rew.then play

There should be a rewind button on the front of the main unit (usually indicated by either REW or 2 arrows pointing to the left), this should be next to the fast forward (again indicated by either F-FWD or 2 arrows pointing to the right) as well as PLAY and STOP - for the VCR. The only thing you would need the remote for is to set the clock and/or perform setup for the DVD player as well as timer recording. Try a universal remote which will make fast forward, play, stop, record (to VHS) and rewind easier.

The problem is caused by the idler assembly which controls play, record, rewind, and fast forward. If the take up reel stops, the vcr senses a problem and will stop the tape. The only other thing it can be is the drive belt, sometimes it will stretch and fall off or break. I suggest a tv technician or somebody that knows their way around a machine.

Select AV-1 or some thing in TV and plug DVD recorder Video-Audio output in AV-1 input of TV, playback any DVD and confirm its picture and sound in TV. Press Stop button of DVD recorder to stop playback.
Now plug Video-Audio output of VCR in DVD recorder input and select AV Input in DVD recorder, insert VHS tape in VCR and playback it and confirm you get VHS picture and sound in TV via DVD recorder.
Hookup between TV, DVD recorder and VCR is completed.
Playback VHS tape in VCR, Insert blank DVD disc in DVD recorder and press Record while you see VHS tape picture in TV.
Hope this info will help you.

try forwarding the tape to the end and then rewind to the start again, this can help to seat the tape correctly on the spindle . the audio track part of the tape is in a specific region on the tape so misalignment may be the issue with those cassettes.

also try to press the tracking up and down when playing the video

what I would do is play the vhs tape for a bit then rewind and press the dub botton only and see what happens. if nada then insert a new blank dvd and make sure its formated.

1. Insert a blank DVD disc in the DVD deck and
close the disc tray.
2. Insert the VHS video tape you wish to copy into
the VCR deck.
3. Find the place on the VHS tape from which you
want to start dubbing using the PLAY, FF, REW
and PAUSE functions. For best results, pause
playback at the point from which you want to
record.
4. Press the DUBBING button on the Remote
Control or DUB on the front panel.
The Dubbing menu appears.
5. Use the arrow keys to select the desired Record
Mode: EP, LP, SP or XP.
6. Select [Dubbing] then press ENTER or DUBBING
to start copying.
7. To stop dubbing at any other time, press STOP (x).
Dubbing will stop automatically when the VHS tape ends.